Update: Riverhead police release name of rescued skydiver

PAUL SQUIRE PHOTO | Manorville firefighters work to free two skydivers, including a first-timer, who were trapped in a tree Tuesday afternoon in Calverton.

Update: Riverhead police have identified the young woman involved in Tuesday’s skydiving accident as Amber Gandolfo, 25, of Massapequa Park. Police said Ms. Gandolf0 was treated at the scene for a minor injury to her leg and refused medical transport.

Two skydivers, including a first-time jumper, were rescued from a tree in Calverton Tuesday evening after a sudden storm blew them off track and crashed them into branches.

The two skydivers were part of five tandem teams that were jumping with Skydive Long Island in Calverton late Tuesday, said owner Ray Maynard.

The plane had already taken off and was in the calm air when Mr. Maynard noticed dust being blown around on the tarmac.

“With no warning whatsoever, it’s 50 mile-per-hour winds,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like this in 27 years.” Mr. Maynard said he rushed into the office to radio up to the plane to cancel the jump, but the skydivers had already left the plane.

The skydivers were blown around by the sudden squall and landed far off course, officials said. The two victims, a young woman and her more experienced tandem instructor, became entangled in a tree on Grumman Boulevard, just south of a string of power lines.

Manorville firefighters received the call about 6:30 p.m., officials said. They used a ladder truck to cut away branches to free the pair, who were left dangling about 30 of feet in the air, police said.

The duo was pulled into a ladder truck’s basket about 7 p.m., and though the young woman was smiling on the way down, she burst into tears once she reached the ground.

The woman was checked by Riverhead ambulance volunteers at the scene, but no one was injured in the incident, firefighters at the scene said.

Tom Gabrielsen, who dived with the two victims, said the ride down was smooth until they went into a cloud. Mr. Gabrielsen said his instructor, who had jumped thousands of times, told him this was the worst jump yet and that they were out of control.

“There was shaking in his voice,” Mr. Gabrielsen said. The two of them landed in a field just over a lake, unharmed.